Szijjarto: Hungary maintains EU position against Russia on Ukraine

Budapest, May 5 (MTI) – Hungary will adhere to the common European Union position against Russia concerning the crisis in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after meeting his Czech counterpart in Prague on Tuesday.

Szijjarto is on a working visit to Prague.

“Hungary has always taken part in accepting the EU’s joint positions. It has always supported common European decisions,” Szijjarto said, adding that the EU’s strength lies primarily in its unity which should not be broken.

Lubomir Zaoralek, the Czech foreign minister, said in his view, Budapest’s position was “basically not different from” that of Prague or the European Union.

A joint European position on the crisis is a principle that the Czech Republic does not want to abandon, he said. It also agrees with Budapest in that various scenarios should be sought within the European Union. Any change in the sanctions against Russia depends on the situation in Ukraine, he added.

Hungary can only accept a peaceful solution regarding Ukraine, Szijjarto said. Ukraine is a neighbouring country through which natural gas and crude oil reach Hungary and where a 150,000-strong Hungarian community lives.

“Hungary wants peace in Ukraine; a strong and stable Ukraine,” he said.

The two sides said the issue of the free trade agreement with the United States was raised at their talks.

“The Czech Republic will wait for negotiations to conclude before formulating an official position,” Zaoralek said, adding that he and Szijjarto agreed there should be an agreement strengthened on the national level, too.

On the subject of GMO products, Zaoralek said this was not the most important part of the free trade agreement. He said he agreed with Czech President Milos Zeman who recently said he would not oppose GMO products entering the Czech Republic.

“Hungary rejects GMO, it is in the constitution,” Szijjarto said.

Earlier in the day Szijjarto met Andrei Babis, the Czech Deputy Prime Minister, for a working breakfast and held talks with Jan Mladek, the minister for Industry and Trade. He also met with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

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